Japademy vs Preply - Which one has better Japanese language tutors? (2025)

Have you ever found yourself wondering, "Which Japanese learning option is actually going to help me the most and truly be worth my hard-earned time and money?" It's a completely valid question, and honestly, it's one we hear quite often! When you're diving into the exciting world of online Japanese learning, making the right choice can feel a bit daunting.

In this article, we're going to pull back the curtain on two popular Japanese learning websites: Preply and, of course, us – Japademy. Both platforms connect you with Japanese tutors for private lessons, and while we, at Japademy, firmly believe our Japanese online private lessons are fantastic for helping students succeed, we also think it's crucial for you to have all the facts. So, in the spirit of transparency, here's an honest, side-by-side comparison of learning Japanese with a tutor through Preply versus Japademy.

Just a quick heads-up: all prices and features we mention here are accurate as of right now, but things can change, you know how it is!

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Japanese Language Tutors: Who's Behind the Screen?

If you're on the hunt for a Japanese learning website that offers a good selection of tutors you can browse through, you'll find that both Japademy and Preply have you covered. They both let you peek at tutor profiles, see their time zones, and even check out their real-time schedules. This is super helpful for figuring out who you connect with and what times actually fit into your busy life. Plus, a big bonus for both is that their tutors can chat in English at a conversational level, making it so much easier to explain your goals and needs.

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Now, here's where things get a bit different. One of the biggest distinctions between Preply and us at Japademy is that Preply's Japanese tutors aren't necessarily native speakers, nor are they always certified in teaching Japanese. For me, and I bet for many of you too, that's a pretty big deal. It could mean missing out on that truly authentic and structured Japanese learning experience you're hoping for, and it might even make it harder to fully immerse yourself in the language and culture. So, if you're leaning towards Preply, my advice would be to really dig into each tutor's profile before you commit to a lesson.

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Preply:

• Japanese tutors aren't necessarily native speakers or certified in Japanese teaching.

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On the flip side, every single one of Japademy's Japanese language tutors is a native speaker and fully certified to teach the language. With their guidance, you'll be diving into an authentic and structured learning environment. Think about it: learning proper grammar, getting that pronunciation and intonation just right, and truly understanding cultural nuances – that's what we aim for. And honestly, the best part? You won't have to endlessly scroll through lists of tutors, playing a trial-and-error game. We've curated a short, carefully selected list of the very best tutors we can offer.

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Japademy:

• Our Japanese tutors are all native speakers and hold Japanese teaching certifications.

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Online Japanese Private Lessons: What's the Experience Like?

Both Japademy and Preply offer live online lessons with tutors; ours are 55 minutes, and Preply's are 50 minutes. These live sessions are fantastic for creating an interactive space where you can chat with your tutor and get real-time feedback on your pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary. And let's be real, the convenience factor is huge – being able to pick a time that works for you and learn from pretty much anywhere is a game-changer.

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Lessons duration comparison:

• Japademy's live online lessons last 55 minutes.
• Preply's live online lessons last 50 minutes.

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However, where we really see a significant divergence is in our learning programs. Preply's learning programs are essentially set by each individual tutor, largely because they're all competing with one another. This does mean lessons can be incredibly customizable, which is pretty cool. For instance, if you're planning a trip to Japan and just want to nail conversational Japanese, you could find a tutor who specializes in that, or simply tell your chosen tutor your goal. They'd then design lessons around real-life scenarios, like asking for directions or ordering food.

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Preply:

• Lessons don't have an established learning program, which might not always lead you directly towards fluency.
• You can often find a tutor who can tailor their teaching style to your specific needs and goals.

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At Japademy, on the other hand, we've put a lot of thought into developing an established learning program designed to maximize your learning outcomes. We follow a structured methodology: each lesson introduces a new topic or grammar point, and you get ample opportunity to master it by practicing with your tutor. For our private lessons, we've got beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels, so you can jump in wherever you feel most comfortable. But don't worry, if you want something a bit more personal, our native tutors are absolutely fantastic at tailoring lessons to your specific needs and goals. This structured approach is really what helps our students build a solid foundation and work towards fluency.

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Japademy:

• Lessons have an established learning program designed to help you reach fluency.
• Our native tutors can still personalize lessons to your needs and goals.

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Oh, and here's a little something extra: We at Japademy offer free trial lessons to interested students, something you typically won't find with tutors on Preply. A free trial is such a great way to see if a tutor's style and the lessons themselves are a good fit for your Japanese learning journey.

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Free trial lesson comparison:

• Japademy Offers free trial lessons (limited to one per student).
• Preply does not offer free trial lessons.

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Private Lessons Pricing: What's the Damage?

Let's be honest, pricing is always a big piece of the puzzle when you're deciding on private lessons. On Preply, the lesson price can swing quite a bit depending on the tutor you pick. Typically, you'll see an average price per lesson somewhere between $19 and $39 USD, which, interestingly enough, could be lower or significantly higher than what you'd find with us. And here’s a potential snag: even if prices are shown in your local currency, you'll likely be charged in USD, which can sometimes lead to sneaky hidden fees from your bank or credit card company. Preply also operates on a membership model where you're automatically charged every four weeks, but they don't offer lesson packages, which many learners prefer as a way to lower the cost per lesson.

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Preply:

• Subscription pricing model available.
• No lesson packages pricing model available.
• The average price per lesson varies significantly based on the tutor.
• You must pay in USD regardless of your country of residence, potentially incurring hidden fees.

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Now, at Japademy, we've got a different approach. We offer lesson packages: 5, 10, and 15-lesson options. The more lessons you buy, the bigger the discount, which really brings down the cost per lesson. Our average cost per lesson is around $25 USD, and a huge plus is that you can pay in over 150 currencies, helping you avoid those pesky hidden fees. Another fantastic benefit with us is that the price of our lessons stays the same, no matter which tutor you choose. This completely eliminates the headache of trying to figure out why some teachers charge more than others, a common issue you might face on platforms like Preply.

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Japademy:

• Offers lesson packages (5, 10, and 15 lessons).
• The average price per lesson is consistent regardless of the tutor.
• You can pay in over 150 currencies.

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Extra Benefits: Beyond the Lesson Itself

When we talk about the extra perks for students, there's quite a noticeable difference between Japademy and Preply. With Preply's tutors, you generally won't find a lot of supplementary learning resources. They also typically don't provide additional free video lessons or a level completion certificate.

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Preply:

• No free video lesson access.
• No vocabulary flashcards provided.
• No level completion certificate given.

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Here at Japademy, we truly believe that learning extends beyond just the lesson time. That's why we give our students free access to our Japanese video lessons and our free Japanese learning app. This allows you to study and practice at your own pace, which, in my experience, really helps accelerate progress. On top of that, we provide a certificate of completion for every level you finish. These certificates are sent via email in PDF format and even have a unique number to validate their authenticity.

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Japademy:

• Provides free video lesson access.
• Provides vocabulary flashcards.
• Provides a level completion certificate.

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So, let's consider this for a moment: With Japademy, you'll pay an average of $25 USD to learn with a native Japanese tutor who actually has a teaching certification. You'll get structured lessons and a bunch of additional learning resources to help you confidently progress towards Japanese fluency. On the other hand, with Preply, you might pay more or less per lesson, but you could be learning from a tutor who isn't a native Japanese speaker, might not have teaching certification, and likely won't provide those extra learning materials. If you ask me, from a cost-benefit perspective, our lessons with native, certified tutors offer a much more complete and authentic learning experience.

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Bottom Line: Your Path to Fluency

If your goal is to learn Japanese through online private lessons taught by truly native Japanese tutors, then our Japademy Japanese Online Private Lessons are definitely the perfect fit for you. With our private lessons, you'll get to explore Japanese culture and learn at your own pace, all from the comfort of your home (or anywhere, really!) while interacting with our incredible teachers in a live, classroom-like setting. Honestly, with Japademy, our Japanese language tutors become more than just teachers; they become your trusted friend and guide on your exciting journey toward Japanese fluency.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Japademy's Online Private Lessons

Thinking about diving into private Japanese lessons with us? Here are some common questions we get!

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Do I need to know any Japanese to get started?

Not at all! Our native Japanese teachers are experts at introducing you to the basics, even if you've never studied Japanese before. Plus, as a student, you'll get free access to our pre-recorded video lessons, which are super helpful for getting a head start before your lessons even begin.

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Will I learn from a native Japanese teacher?

Absolutely, yes! All of our Japanese teachers are native speakers and are fully certified as professional Japanese teachers. This is something we're really proud of, and it definitely sets us apart from other learning websites where teachers might be native but haven't received official teaching training.

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How do I book a trial lesson?

It's simple! Just fill out our enrollment form, and we'll match you with the most suitable teacher based on your availability and current Japanese language experience. You'll then get a 30-minute trial lesson with your assigned teacher.

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How can I continue learning with my teacher after the trial lesson?

After your trial lesson, you can guarantee weekly lessons with your Japanese teacher by purchasing one of our lesson packages – we offer 5, 10, or 15-lesson options – with a simple debit or credit card payment in your local currency.

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What can I expect upon enrolling as a student?

Once you've secured your lessons by completing your payment, we'll send you an enrollment confirmation email within 24 hours. This email will also include access to our Japanese video courses and vocabulary flashcards. We'll also send you a Google Calendar invitation to join your weekly live lessons via Zoom.

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How many hours a week do I need to dedicate to learning Japanese?

In addition to your weekly live lesson(s), we recommend dedicating at least an extra 90 minutes a week to self-study. We provide you with vocabulary flashcards and video lessons specifically designed to help you review what you've learned during your live lessons with your teacher.

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Are there any additional costs, such as for books and other materials?

Nope, not at all! We provide all our students with exclusive Japanese learning material that our native Japanese teachers have created themselves. You won't need to buy any books or pay for the materials we give you.

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Is there an age requirement to join the lessons?

Our Japanese online lessons are designed for learners who are 14 years old or older. If you're a younger learner, we'd recommend exploring other learning options specifically tailored for that age group.

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What if I am not satisfied with my teacher?

We want you to be happy with your learning experience! Your free trial lesson is a great opportunity to meet your teacher without any commitment. If you're not satisfied with your allocated teacher, we can definitely assign you to a different one who might be a better fit for your learning needs.